The Rochester Americans opened training camp today and about the time they were coming off the ice, they were getting more players from the parent Buffalo Sabres.

The Rochester Americans opened training camp today and about the time they were coming off the ice, they were getting more players from the parent Buffalo Sabres.

Namely, their leadership core and three of their top four defensemen.

Defensemen Brayden McNabb, Chad Ruhwedel and Drew Bagnall, goalie Matt Hackett and forwards Mike Zigomanis and Matt Ellis were reassigned by the Sabres. Bagnall and Ellis must clear waivers (noon Tuesday). Winger Jamie Tardif has cleared waivers but did not practice Monday because of a lower body injury (not believed to be serious).

Bagnall, Ellis and Zigomanis will be prime-time players but they also bring a combined 29 years of pro experience (Zigomanis 12 years, Ellis 11 and Bagnall 6).

"We have great veteran leadership," coach Chadd Cassidy said. "They bring a lot of experience to the table and it's something I thought we really lacked in the past, guys that have been there, have been at the NHL level and played a lot of games." Tardif, who has played seven pro seasons, is also part of the leadership core.

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Third-year center Phil Varone didn't get a very long look from the Sabres in camp --as in no preseason games. Thus, he knows where he stands and said he needs to have "a huge season."

As a rookie in 2011-12, Varone scored 11 goals, 41 assists and 52 points in 76 games, but was nearly a point-a-game player over the final have of the season. He also finished plus-17.

Last season, he was pushed down the depth chart during the NHL lockout when Cody Hodgson and Kevin Porter were with the Amerks and then never really re-emerged (11-24-35 in 62 games, minus-3).

"I need to bounce back from last year," he said.

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Three goalies -- Connor Knapp, Andrey Makarov and Nathan Lieuwen -- continue to compete for one backup spot with the Amerks. There are only two preseason games (Wednesday at MCC vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and then at WB/S on Friday), so there isn't a great deal of game-time opportunity to make an impact.

Thus, every practice is critical, Knapp said. The coaches on the ice, and whatever hockey-department personnel may be in the stands, are taking notes.

"You have to bring it every day," Knapp said. "There's plenty of opportunity to prove yourself."

Staff writer:
Kevin Oklobzija covers Rochester’s two oldest professional sports teams, hockey’s Rochester Americans and baseball’s Rochester Red Wings. He has been at the rink for Amerks hockey since the 1985-86 season and, after providing backup Wings coverage for many years, is now the full-time beat writer. A native of Minnesota and a graduate of St. Cloud State University, Kevin arrived in Western New York in June of 1985 and never left. Apparently he likes it here. He still believes National Lampoon’s Vacation may be the best movie ever made.